Obituaries for Nov. 7, 2013

Pine Mountain Lake resident Rene I. De La Vara died Oct. 31 at his home. He was 80.

Mr. De La Vara was born in Guaymas, Mexico, the son of Rosaria and Isauro De La Vara.

He served as a lieutenant in the Mexican Navy from 1949 to 1950 and attended the University of Mexico City.

He moved to Tuolumne County in 1965. He worked for Louisiana-Pacific in Sonora for a number of years before retiring. He settled at Pine Mountain Lake in May 1982.

He enjoyed singing, dancing and entertaining.

Mr. De La Vara was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Cathryn De La Vara, of Pine Mountain Lake; his sons, Juan De La Vara, of Waterford, Rene De La Vara Jr., of Redding, Irving De La Vara, of Los Angeles, and Dean De La Vara, of San Diego; his daughter, Libby Contreras, of Mexico; grandchildren, Margaretta De La Vara, of Marysville, Michael De La Vara, of Hawaii, Alicia De La Vara, of Washington, Alexis De La Vara, of Redding, Jonathan De La Vara, of Redding, Lexi De La Vara, of Waterford, Sunol Narito, of Waterford, Max De La Vara-Fischer, of Groveland, Lars De La Vara, of Mexico, Signe De La Vara, of Mexico, Martine De La Vara, of Mexico, and Luis De La Vara, of Mexico; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Pine Mountain Lake Lodge, 20270 Pine Mountain Drive, Groveland.

Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Richard Charles Ferraris

Aug. 17, 1931 — Oct. 26, 2013

Mokelumne Hill resident Richard Charles Ferraris died Oct. 26 at his home. He was 82.

Mr. Ferraris was born and raised in San Francisco, the son of Charles and Constance Ferraris.

His grandparents were residents of Albany Flat, near Angels Camp in Calaveras County, where his father was born.

Mr. Ferraris served with a U.S. Army Special Forces unit from 1952 to 1954.

He worked as a shipwright at Hunter’s Point and Mare Island for 35 years.

He also lived in Sonoma for many years before settling in Mokelumne Hill with his wife, Karen, in 1993.

Mr. Ferraris was preceded in death by his son, Kenneth Ferraris.

He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Karen Ferraris, of Mokelumne Hill; his daughter and son-in-law, Kelly and Todd Spadafore, of Poulsbo, Wash.; stepsons, Rory, Lane, Lance and Chad Tabatt and their families; grandsons Cole and Corey Spadafore, of Poulsbo; and sister, Nancy Harrington, of San Marcos.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Ferraris home.

San Andreas Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.

John T. Meagher

Sept. 14, 1920 — Nov. 4, 2013

Fourth-generation Mariposa resident John T. Meagher died Monday at his home. He was 93.

Mr. Meagher was born in Fresno, the only child to Alfred and Eugenia Meagher.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He worked as a surveyor for the City and County of San Francisco for 28 years and worked on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir project.

He enjoyed gardening, eating breakfast at Sal’s Restaurant, and spending time with his family and friends.

He also enjoyed spending summers in Cherry Valley, and spending time on Mount Bullion and his ranch.

Mr. Meagher was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, June Meagher; and sons, Tim and Pat Meagher.

He is survived by his granddaughters, Amber Chambers and her husband, Bob Jaekle, of Mariposa, Shannon Meagher Marcus, of Arizona, and Ashley Meagher, of Atwater; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 4985 Bullion St., Mariposa. A potluck reception will follow at Building A of the Mariposa Fairgrounds, 5007 Fairgrounds Road.

DENNIS — A graveside service for Velva Lorraine Dennis, 85, of Sonora, who died Oct. 30 at her home, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mount Shadow Cemetery in Sonora. Heuton Memorial Chapel is handling arrangements.

KERSEY — A memorial service for Mitchell Keith Kersey, 55, of Sonora, who died Sunday at Sonora Regional Medical Center, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Terzich and Wilson Funeral, 225. E Rose St., Sonora. Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.